Osamu Tezuka's "Astro Boy" manga has been the subject of three animated TV series spanning the past four decades and is a licensed property for merchandising.

David Bowers is directing the new feature from a screenplay by Timothy Harris. Set in futuristic Metro City, "Astro Boy" tells the story of a young robot created by a scientist to replace the son he has lost. Unable to fulfill the grieving father's expectations, the robot embarks on a journey before he returns to save the city and reconcile with the man who had rejected him.

Maryann Garger is producing. A 2009 release is planned.

"Astro Boy" is Summit's second computer-animated feature from Imagi Studios; the first was last year's "TMNT."

Summit will release the 3-D computer-animated feature "Fly Me to the Moon" on Aug. 8.